A decade on from the first talks between Iran and the western powers, it looks like the Persian state might be about to change its stance on nuclear power. Some are pointing to the upcoming elections, others to the Syrian war but whatever it is, this pariah nation could be about to join the rest of the world again.

But all parties agreed that the notorious western sanctions on Iran should be up for discussion at these latest talks. Since 2006, when President Ahmadinejad stopped allowing International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors around his nuclear facilities, the economic results have been crippling.

So perhaps it is a pragmatism that is drawing Iran into negotiations once more. The rial currency crisis in October last year was largely blamed on the nuclear sanctions and Ahmadinejad has been fast losing popularity with voters over the state of the economy.

However, the latest find of sixteen uranium deposits would allow the Persian state to bypass many of the sanctions, meaning this is not an entirely economic decision. Some commentators are looking to a regional answer instead.

With neighboring Iraq now Shia-led and Iranian ally, Hezbollah, flexing its muscles in both Lebanon and Syria, perhaps Iran has stopped feeling like the regional outcast? A more confident Iranian nation doesn’t need to be waving around the threat of nuclear weapons as regularly.